Senator Kristin Corrado’s legislation to help prevent unsafe infant abandonments and deaths by increasing awareness of New Jersey’s Safe Haven laws has been signed into law.

“We’ve all read the tragic news stories of unprepared parents abandoning their newborn in dangerous and sometimes deadly manners,” said Corrado (R-40). “New Jersey has laws in place that allow the safe, legal, and anonymous drop-off of infants at hospital emergency rooms, police, fire, or EMS stations staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The more people we can make aware of this life-saving program, the more babies will be rescued.”

Corrado sponsors the bipartisan law that designates September of each year as “Safe Haven Awareness Month” in New Jersey.

Since the enactment of New Jersey’s Safe Haven law in 2000, 77 newborns have been saved. At least one Safe Haven site is located in every city and town in the state.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act,” added Corrado. “Choosing to safely surrender a newborn not only saves the baby from harm but also saves the parents from prosecution as well. It is my hope that overwhelmed residents, especially teens who feel they are not ready to properly take care of their child, know they have this option.”